Vertical-axis canister-type vacuum cleaner



, Oct. 26, 1943.

W. LEATHERS VERTICAL AXIS CANIST ER-TYPE VACUUM-CLEANER Original Filed Oct. 12, 1939 INVENTOR.

movable from the machine by placing the fingers inside the opening 2| at the top and pulling it out of the top of the cleaner. When it is replaced it rests on the rubber gasket 23 and when pressed downward is caught underneath the springs I2. The springs l2 exert'a' downward pulling efiect upon the entire unit, thus causing the horizontal ledge portion 24 of the cup portion Hi to be forced downwardly in sealing relation ship with the rubber gasket 23,, Theoperation or use of this secondary filter is as follows: The

operator places the cylinder 18 inthe bag 19 and catches the combined screen and bag between the top and bottom shells by means of the bayonet slots 14 and pins [5 as indicated. Before or after placing this filter-unit in the top of the machine, a relatively small quantity of liquid} such as water, or water and other desirable elements,

such as alcohol, volatilizable disinfectants, perfumes, and the like are poured into the top of the unit through-the opening 2|. It should be noted that it is perfectly practical to pour the liquid 7 into this'filter-unit while the filter-unit is in the top of the machine for the liquid must be guided accumulated a sufiicient amount of dirt; which.

is evident to the operator through the transparent shell H, the unit may be removed from the machine, instantly separated by means of the bayonet slots, and washed.

A cord hook 25 provides means of holding the v cord on the machine. 7 it I have thus set forth my invention in clear terms and described specifically one embodiment thereof, but at the same time wish it understood that many variations may be made on the prev:

ferredrform shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention. v A

" What I claim is:

1. A secondary filter unit designed for reception within the outlet opening of a vertical-axis vacuum-cleaner in an uprightposition, said filter comprising a lower cup-shaped shell having an imperforate bottom and side walls which are imperforate throughout their lower regions thus forming a receptacle adapted to receive a liquid therein, a closure for the upper end of said shell removably secured thereto,- a tabular filter screen disposed within said unit and positioned between the closure and shell and extending downwardly in the shell to a point adjacent said bottom, there being air passages extending through the upper regions of said shell, said closure beingprovided with an air outlet opening, said opening being wholly disposed within the tubular confines of said filter screen. I e

2. In a portablehose-type'vertical-axis-yacuum cleaner, a main housing having an air inlet adjacent its bottom and an air outlet adjacent its top, a secondary filter unit removably disposedin said outlet opening, a horizontal perforate partition extending across said housing below said outlet opening, said secondary filter unit-comprising a cup-shaped shell having an imperforate bottom and side walls which are imperforate throughout their-lower regions thus 'forming a receptacle adapted to receive a small quantity of liquid therein, an annular horizontal sealing flange formed on said shell adjacent its upper edge, an inwardly directed horizontal ledge projecting inwardly from said housing below said outlet opening, a sealing medium on said ledge and disposed between said horizontal flange and ledge in sealing engagement therewith, a domelike closure for said shell removably secured to the shellin a.rim-to-rim engagement therewith,

" said closure beingformed with an outlet opening centrally thereof, a removable filter screen I disposed within said unit, said filter screen comprising a cylindrical open-ended perforate member and a cloth bag surrounding the same, said screen bearing at its upper and against said closure and .resting at its lower end upon said 7 imperforate bottom, an outwardly projecting annular bead formed on said shell adjacent its bottom and a plurality of spring fingers secured to said horizontal partition and bearing against .said bead ,for removably holding said filter unit in position within said outlet opening and for normally urging the same downwardly in the p n i r 3. In a portable hose-type vertical-axis vacuumcleaner, a main housing having an air inlet adjacent its bottom and an air outlet adjacent its top, a secondary filter unit removably disposed in said outlet opening, said f lter unit comprising a cup-shaped shell having an imperforate bottom and side walls-which are imperforate throughout their lower regions thus forming a receptacle adapted to receive a small quantity of liquid therein, an annular horizontal fiange formed on said shell adjacent its upper edge, an inwardly directed horizontal ledge projecting inwardly from said housing below said outlet opening, a sealing medium on said ledge disposed between said horizontal flange and ledge in sealing engagement therewith, a closure for said shell removably secured to the upper edge thereof, said closure being formed with an outlet opening centrally thereof, a removable filter screen disposed 'within said unit and surrounding said latter opening and means carried by said housing and bearing against said shell for normally urging the filter unit downwardly in the housing to causejsaid.horizontalsealing flange and ledge to compress said sealing medium therebetween.

4. In a portable hose-typevertical-axis vacuum-cleaner, a main housing having an air inlet adjacent its bottom and an air outlet adjacent its top,a secondary'filter unit removably'disposed insaid outlet opening and projecting partially thereinto, said' filter'unit comprising a cupshaped shell having an imperforate bottom and side wall which are in imperforate throughout a major portion of their lower regions thus forming 'areceptacle adapted to receive a small quantity of liquid therein, an annular horizontal flange formed on said shell adjacent its upper-edge, an inwardly-directed horizontal ledge extending from said housing in the vicinity-of said outlet opening, a sealing medium disposed between said ledgeand horizontal fiange, a closure for said shell removably secured 1 to. the upper edge thereof, .said closure being formed with an outlet opening'and being positioned substantially; exteriorally of the main housing, a removable filteu screen disposed within said unit/and surrounding said latter opening, and spring means carried by said housing housing. H WARD LEATHERS. 

